Anchor for use in wells



April m, i956 J. 5. PAGE ANCHOR FOR USE IN WELLS Filed June 9, 1952 INVENTOR. JOHN 5. PA GE.

Ai orney.

ANCHOR FOR USE KY WELLS John S. Page, Long Beach, Calif., assignor to Page Gil Tools 1316., Long Beach, Calif., a corporation of California Application June 9, 1952, Serial No. 292,459

Claims. (6i. 1621 2) This invention has to do with an anchor for use in wells and it is a general object of the invention to provide a simple, practical, improved construction particularly practical for use in tubing anchors and the like.

Well anchors such as are used for or in connection with tubing, present a number of practical problems due primarily to the fact that it is desirable that such a device have a very large flow passage through it, and that its gripping action be effective and dependable, while at the same time its size is limited so that it can be operated through a casing or tubular member but slightly larger than the tubing to which the anchor is applied.

It is a general object of this invention to provide an anchor for tubing, or the like, which is of simple, inexpensive, yet dependable construction, and which provides a structure with a large or full size flow passage through it while at the same time the Working parts are of substantial size and are of sturdy construction.

Another object of this invention is to provide an anchor construction of the general character referred to wherein a gripping jaw is carried by the body of the structure and is so mounted on the body as to be effectively guided for radial movement relative thereto and so that it is stopped against excessive operation or over-travel, such as might result in separation of the jaw from the body.

It is another object of the invention to provide an anchor of the general character referred to wherein there is a'jaw construction mounted on the body of the structure for movement radially relative thereto while a simple, practical, dependable means confines the jaw construction against shifting longitudinally of the body.

It is another object of this invention to provide an anchor of the general character referred to wherein there is a unitary body of simple, practical, inexpensive construction and characterized by undercut grooves that carry mounting ribs on the jaw elements which are applied to the body.

lnthe construction provided by the invention the body has a middle portion with diametrically opposite fiat sides and diametrically opposite convex sides joining or between the flat sides. The convex sides of the body are curved about a center parallel with and spaced from the axis of a flow passage that extends through the body from one end to the other. The center of curvature of the convex sides of the body is spaced from the axis of the flow passage in the direction of a jaw mechanism occurring at one of the convex sides of the body. The jaw mechanism includes one or more elongate jaws extending longitudinally of the body and accommodated in a recess in a convex side of the body. Each jaw has an outer or gripping face curved to conform to the shape of a tubing or casing in which the structure is to be set and having a fiat inner side or back. A mounting means supports each jaw relative to the body and preferably includes ribs at the longitudinal edges of the jaw projecting from'the back of the jaw and into grooves at the bottom of the recess provided in the body. The outer walls of the recesses are undercut and flanges occur on the outer sides of the ribs operating in the undercut portions of the grooves and serve to limit the outward movement of the ribs in the grooves and thus stop separation of the jaw from the body upon movement of the jaw radially of the body. One or more rams occur for operating each jaw and in a typical case two rams operate each jaw and each ram is a simple, round element slidably carried in a cylindrical opening extending into the body from the recess that carries the jaw and opening to the passage that extends through the body. Each ram element carries a seal or packing ring. As a result of the construction provided pressure occurring on fluid in the passage provided through the body acts on the rams forming the rams outwardly so that they operate the jaws outwardly relative to the body and into gripping engagement with a casing, or the like, in which the structure is located, while the side of the body opposite the jaws bears or seats against the opposite side of the casing in which the structure is located.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of my invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a well casing showing a tubing anchor therein with parts of the anchor in section to illustrate details of construction. Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view being a view taken as indicated by line 2-2 on Fig. 1, showing the mechanism set or in operating condition. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the mechanism in released condition. Fig. 4 is a reduced plan section taken as indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed View illustrating a step that may be employed in the process of forming an undercut groove in the body of the tool, and Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the second step performed in completing the undercut groove in the body.

The construction provided by the present invention is such that it can be used to advantage in various well tools and since it is particularly practical, as applied to a structure of the type ordinarily referred to as a tubing anchor, it will be referred to in this connection though it is not intended to thereby, in any way, limit its scope or range of application. The tool is adapted to be used on or in connection with a string S of tubing, or the like, and in a typical situation it is operated in or acts to set the tubing relative to a casing C located in a well. The tool, as provided by the present invention, includes, generally, a body A having a main or middle portion 16, an upper end portion 11 and a lower end portion 12. The tool further includes one or more slips or jaws D and mounting means G mounting the jaws on the body for limited movement radially relative thereto. Stop means E limit the jaws against movement lengthwise of the body A and rams F are provided to operate the jaws radially of the body.

In the preferred form of the invention the body A is a unitary part or element and the middle portion 10 of the body which carries the jaws D is preferably provided with diametrically opposite flat sides 15 connected by opposite curved or convex sides 16 and 17. The body A has an elongate flow passage 13 extending through it from one end to the other and this passage is preferably a round passage, uniform in size and shape from one end to the other, and with the construction of the present invention it may correspond in size with the passage occurring in the string S to which the structure is attached. In accordance with the present invention the curved or convex sides 16 and 17 are curved about a common center, which 1 center is spaced from the central axis of the passage 18 in the direction of the curved side 17 as will be apparent from a consideration of Figs; 2 and 3 of the drawings. As a result of this arrangement or relationship of parts the body has a thick or heavy-wall occurring between the side 17 and the passage 18 accommodating the jaws and the parts related thereto, as will be hereafter described. Further, with the construction above the body may be proportioned to fit within the casing C withsuitableworking clearance, while longitudinal openings 24 occur at or adjacent the flat sides of the body so that there can be circulation of fluid in the casing past the tool, as is necessary in some installations.

The upper end portion 11 of body A projects upwardly from the middle portion 18 and is an elongate part of the body, round in cross section and'concentric' with the flow passage 18 that extends thro'ugh'the body. The endportion 11 is considerably smaller in cross section than the middle portion 10 of the body, leaving the middle portion 10 with an exposed upper end 45 The end portion 11 is provided at its upper or terminal end with a threaded part 41 adapted to receive a part or coupling of string S and through this construction the anchor is coupled to the string S.

.The lower end portion 12 of the body A is similar to the upper end portion 11, that is, it is a reduced, round part of the body, smaller than the middle portion 1% leaving the middle portion with a lower end 42. The end portion 12' is shown provided with a threaded terminal end portion i3 adapted to receive a coupling 44 for making connection with a part of the string S or other equipment,

as circumstances may require.

In accordance with the present invention the tool is provided with one or more slips or jaws D and in the particular form of the invention illustrated there are several jaws, each elongate in form, and these jaws are arranged end to end to form a series that extends longitudinally of the body A. The jaws D arelocated at the middle portion 10 of the body and are engaged or entered in a recess formed longitudinally of the body in the side thereof. The recess is defined by a longitudinally disposed bottom 84 spaced inwardly from the side 17 and parallel with the central axis of the tool, and by spaced parallel side walls 83. The recess 25 opens at the ends of the middle portion 1% of the body A at the means E. The several jaws are preferably alike and each has an outer or gripping face which is preferably shaped to fit or conform to the shape of the interior 27 of the casing C. As shown in the drawings, the outer gripping face 26 may be toothed. The inner or back side 28 of the jaw is preferably flat and opposes the flat bottom (54- of the recess 25. In the particular case illustrated the several jaws D are directly engaged with each other in end to end relation and the assembly or series of jaws D is coextensive with the middle portion it of body A.

The mounting means G whereby each jaw D is mounted on body A includes ribs 36 on the jaw extending longitudinally thereof and preferably located at the longitudinal edge portions of the jaw. The ribs 30 project rearwardly from the jaw and each is slidably received in a groove provided in the middle portion it of body A and extending inwardly from the bottom 34 of the recess 25. Each rib receiving groove has what may be termed an inner wall 31 slidably receiving the inner side 32 of a rib 3d and has an outer side 33 slidably receiving the outer side 34 of the rib. The outer side is a continuation'of the wall 83above described. The outer wa l 33 of the groove is undercut at 36 leaving the groove with a shoulder 37.

Afiange 38 projects from the outer side 34 of the rib .4 V taining the jaw in alignment with the body longitudinally thereof. In accordance with the present invention the recess 25 and the grooves extending inward from the bottom of the recess extend continuously from one end to the other of the middle portion 10 of body A, and these parts are open at the ends of the middle portion 19; As a result of this construction the jaws D can be slid into engagement with the middle portion 10 of the body A from either end of that portion of the body and when the'jaws are positioned as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings they are free to operate radially of the portion 10 of the body, and this movement or operation relative to the body is limited by cooperation of the flanges 38 and stop shoulders 37.

The rib receiving groove provided in the body portion 10 as hereinabove described, and as shown throughout the drawings, occurs in the thick portion of the body between side 17 and passage 18, and the construction is such that the undercut groove can be very easily and simply formed by the two simple, machining operations. For example, to form an undercut rib-receiving groove as provided by the invention a simple milling cutter X may be operated in' the manner illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings, to cut the sides or walls 31 and 33 of the groove and a portion of the bottom thereof. When this machining or milling operation has been completed throughout the length of the body portion 10 a second milling cutter Y, such as is shown in Fig. 6, may be operated to complete the bottom 70 and to establish the undercut in the outer wall or side of the groove, leaving the shoulder 37.

The stop means E provided at each end of the'middle' portion 10 of body A is provided to stop movement ofthe jaws D longitudinally of the body. In the ,form of the invention illustrated each stop means includes a stop collar 50 slidable onto an end portion of the body A to abut or engage an end of the middle portion 10, and

a retainer 51 threaded onto the end portion of the body to retain the stop collar in engagement with the end of the middle portion. The stop collar is provided with flat sides 52 corresponding to and aligned with the flatsides 15 of body portion 10, and the stop collar has round or V convex sides 53 and 54 corresponding to and registering with the sides 16 and 17, respectively, of thebody portion 10. A key 58 is provided to key the stop collar 54 on its supporting end portion of the body to holdthe stop collar in register with the engaged end of the body portion 10.

The retainers 51 of the stop means are simple sleeves threaded onto the end portions of the body A, and in practice these elements may be tightened against the stop collars to hold the stop collars tightly seatedagainst the ends of the body portion 10. When the jaws D have been assembled with the body portion 10 fromeither end thereof, and when the stop collars have been arranged in place and made secure by the retainers 51, the ends of the recess 25 and the grooves related thereto are closed so that the jaws are held against displacement from either end of the body portion 10, though they are free to move radially of the body as hereinabove described.

In accordance with the present invention one'or more rams F is provided to operate each jaw D. In the particular case illustrated two rams operate each jaw D and the several rams are in a series lengthwise of body portion 10, each ram being a round or turned unit slidably carried in a cylindrical opening 60 formed in the body connecting the recess 25 and the passage 18. The outer ends 61 of the rams may be flat and such as to seat against the flat back sides28 of the jaws. Each ram is provided with a suitable sealing or packing means. In the case illustrated a sealing ring 62 is carried by each ram and has sealing engagement with the wall of the cylindrical opening 60 carrying the ram.

With the construction provided by the, present invention the jaws D when in a retracted or inoperative position are clear of the inner wall 27 of casing C, as

shown in Fig. 3, and the anchor as a whole may be clear of or out of engagement with the wall 27 of the casing,

leaving the tool free for movement in the casing. When wall 27 at a point diametrically oppoiste that engaged by the jaws. As a result of this action the anchor is set or is established in gripping engagement with the casing C and will remain set in the casing so long as pressure is maintained on the fluid in the passage 18. it is important to observe that the body will remain stationary in casing C, that is, it will not work or shift in the casing. When pressure is relieved from the fluid in the passage 18 the jaws are free to move inwardly, and as a result the anchor is released from the casing C and may be moved longitudinally therein.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, 1 do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but Wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. A well anchor including, an elongate body with a middle portion of substantial extent lengthwise of the body and reduced end portions adjoining and projecting from the ends of the middle portion, there being a flow passaage longitudinally of the body, the middle portion of the body having a side recess formed by a bottom and L maced side walls extending longitudinally thereof from one end to the other thereof and having grooves in the recess coextensive therewith and each with a wall having an undercut portion establishing a stop shoulder, a jaw in the recess coextensive with said middle portion and having an inner face and an outer gripping face, ribs on the jaw coextensive therewith and slidable in the grooves and having stop flanges cooperating with the shoulders to limit outward movement ofthe jaw relative to the body, stop means on said end portions adjacent the ends of the middle portion of the body confining the jaw to the middle portion of the body, and a ram carried by the middle portion of the body in communication with said passage and adapted to engage said inner face of the jaw to operate the jaw radially outward relative to the body.

2. A well anchor including, an elongate body with a middle portion of substantial extent lengthwise of the body and reduced end portions adjoining and projecting from the ends of the middle portion, there being a flow passage longitudinally of the body, the middle portion of the body having a side recess formed by a bottom and spaced side walls extending longitudinally thereof and coextensive therewith, there being grooves in the bottom of the recess each with a wall having an undercut portion establishing a stop shoulder, a jaw in the recess coextensive with the middle portion and having an inner face and an outer gripping face, ribs on the jaw slidable in the grooves and having stop flanges cooperating with the shoulders to limit outward movement of the jaw relative to the body, stop means adjacent the ends of the middle portion of the body confining the jaw to the middle portion of thebody and including stop collars separable from and mounted on the end portions of the body and retainers releasably fastened on the end portions holding the collars engaged with the ends of the middle portion of the body, and a ram carried by the middle portion of the body in communication with said passage and adapted to engage said inner face of the jaw to operate the jaw radially outward relative to the body.

5, 5. A well anchor including, middle part of substantial length and extending length- 3. A well anchor including, an elongate body with a middle portion of substantial length and extending longitudinally of the body and like reduced end portions adjoining and projecting from the ends of the middle portion and each having a threaded part, there being a flow passage longitudinally of the body, the middle portion of the body having a side recess formed by a bottom and spaced side walls extending longitudinally thereof from one end to the other thereof and having grooves in the bottom of the recess at the sides thereof, each groove having a wall with an undercut portion establishing a stop shoulder, a jaw in the recess coextensive with the middle portion and having an inner face and an outer gripping face, ribs on the jaw slidable in the grooves and having stop flanges cooperating with the shoulders to limit outward movement of the jaw relative to the body, stop means at the ends of the middle portion of the body confining the jaw to the middle portion of the body and including stop collars slidable on the end portions of the body and retainers threaded on said threaded parts of the end portions of the body and holding the collars engaged with the ends of the middle portion of the body, and a ram carried by the middle portion of the body between the grooves and adapted to engage said inner face of the jaw to operate the jaw radially outward relative to the body, the ram being in communication with said passage.

4. A well anchor including, an elongate unitary body with a middle portion extending longitudinally of the body and having opposite flat sides exposed at the exterior of the anchor-and opposite convex sides between the fiat sides and exposed at the exterior of the anchor, there being a flow passage extending longitudinally through the body from one end to the other and spaced from one convex side to establish a thick portion having an external recess formed by a bottom and spaced side walls and having grooves therein, each groove having a wall undercut to establish a stop shoulder, a jaw in the recess, ribs on the jaw entering the grooves and having stop flanges cooperating with the shoulders, and fluid means in communication with said passage and adapted to operate the jaw outwardly of the body.

an elongate body with a wise of the body and having 0' posite flat sides exposed at the exterior of the anchor and opposite convex sides between the flat sides and exposed at the exterior of the anchor, there being a flow passage through the body from one end to the other and spaced from one convex side to establish a portion of the middle part of the body at one side of the passage substantially thicker than the portion at the diametrically opposite side of the passage, the thick portion having an external recess formed by a bottom and spaced side walls with grooves in the bottom thereof, each groove having a wall undercut to establish a stop shoulder, a jaw in the recess, ribs on the jaw entering the grooves and having stop flanges cooperating with the shoulders, stop means at the ends of said middle portion of the body confining the jaw thereto, and fluid means in communication with said passage and adapted to operate the jaw outwardly of the body, the stop means including stop collars with sides corresponding to those of the middle portion of the body and held in register therewith.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,383,453 Crickmer Aug. 28, 1945 2,464,390 Hammer Mar. 15, 1949 2,546,950 Nixon Mar. 27, 1951 2,603,292 Page July 15, 1952 

